Head of Series Manufacturing

About the role

Working within the site leadership team of the McLaren Composites Technology Centre in Sheffield/Rotherham, reporting to the Plant Director. The Head of Series Manufacturing will provide strategic and operational leadership of manufacturing operations to deliver safe, high-quality vehicle component production. This role involves interaction at all phases from concept design for manufacturing, through to series production and aftersales.

Own manufacturing performance in terms of cost, quality, and delivery by developing and implementing best-practice processes, equipment, and facilities. Drive continuous improvement excellence for series production, model-year, and running changes. Lead, develop, and motivate a high-performing team to ensure robust problem-solving, efficient resource utilization, and alignment with wider business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with health and safety standards across all manufacturing operations.
• Facility management: own maintenance, replacement, and lifecycle management of existing tooling and production CAPEX.
• Site layout ownership: design, optimize, and maintain site layout to maximize flow, safety, ergonomics, and space utilization.
• Process layout ownership: standardize and control process layouts to support consistent, high-quality series production and efficient running changes.
• Production capacity planning: plan capacity, staffing, and resources to meet current and forecast demand, including ramp-up scenarios and multi-shift operation.
• Deliver manufacturing infrastructure and resourcing to meet productivity, quality, availability, and OEE targets.
• Continuous improvement (from Job 1 onwards): lead initiatives to reduce scrap, shorten cycle times, simplify BOMs, improve product quality, and increase equipment availability.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma/DMAIC, TPM, Kaizen, and appropriate automation/technology adoption to drive improvements.
• Maintenance & reliability strategy: oversee preventative maintenance, spares, and reliability programs to maintain equipment availability.
• Quality assurance: ensure systems, fixtures, and processes meet product quality and customer specifications.
• Supplier coordination: work with cross-functional teams and suppliers to secure parts quality, lead times, and supplier readiness for series production.
• Commercial & budgeting: undertake costing modeling, prepare CAPEX proposals, and manage budgets, forecasts, and cost-reduction activities.
• Problem-solving & governance: lead root cause analysis, ensure timely corrective/preventive actions, and report KPIs and risks to stakeholders.
• People leadership: lead, coach, and develop the manufacturing support team, set clear objectives, and foster a collaborative, accountable culture.

Requirements

Personal Attributes

• Highly motivated, resilient, and assertive with a pragmatic, data- and process-driven approach.
• Dynamic and adaptable; able to respond to challenging situations with innovative, practical solutions.
• Clear and effective communicator (written and oral) able to present technical information and influence at all levels.
• Strong team player and people leader: encourages, empowers, and develops colleagues; builds trust and positive working relationships.
• Logical thinker with the ability to balance strategic priorities and day-to-day operational objectives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Minimum 10 years in manufacturing engineering/operations; at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven experience in vehicle or complex assembly manufacturing, launches, model-year and running changes, and cross-functional delivery.
• Experience delivering a manufacturing engineering, maintenance, or similar function across multi-shift operations.
• Strong technical knowledge of manufacturing systems, equipment, facilities, tooling lifecycle, and regulatory/safety compliance to enable timely, well-informed decisions.
• Demonstrable experience in capacity planning, production scheduling, maintenance strategy, supplier quality management, and OEE improvement.
• Track record of driving continuous improvement/automation using DMAIC, Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or equivalent.
• Financial literacy: budget ownership, CAPEX process, business case development, and costing modeling.
• Excellent communicator and influencer; able to manage multiple stakeholders and present performance and risk to senior leadership.

Benefits

• Structured career development framework
• 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays
• Annual buy & sell up to five days
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus award
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance benefit
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance program and free financial & mortgage advice

About Us

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars. It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, driving our innovation and enabling us to truly create something special.